THE SOUL OF AMSTERDAM

Alyson Williams - Promotional Photo (1986)
Singer, songwriter Alyson Williams needs no introduction. Williams had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some notable tracks include "Just Call My Name", "Sleep Talk", "My Love Is So Raw" and "I Need Your Lovin". Pictured are former Profile Records President Cory Robbins (left), Alyson Williams, shown here with her former manager Russell Simmons, at the signing of her debut 12-inch, "Yes We Can Can," for the label. 

Bruce Lundvall with Pieces Of A Dream - Promotional Photo (1985)

Pictured are James K. Lloyd, Cedric Napoleon, Curtis Harmon of Pieces Of A Dream, with the late Bruce Lundvall at the signing of Joyride to the Manhattan label.

Bruce Lundvall (September 13, 1935 – May 19, 2015) was an American record company executive, best known for his period as the President and CEO of the Blue Note Label Group, reporting directly to Eric Nicoli, the Chief Executive Officer of EMI Group. In a career spanning half a century, Bruce Lundvall signed a wide array of artists, including Willie Nelson, Herbie Hancock, Dexter Gordon, Woody Shaw, James Taylor, Stan Getz, Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Richard Marx, Natalie Cole, Cassandra Wilson, Anita Baker, and Norah Jones. He headed the following labels: Blue Note Records (jazz), Angel Records (classical), and Manhattan Records (adult pop).

Under Bruce’s stewardship Blue Note established itself as the most-respected and longest-running jazz label in the world. He presided over a prosperous nearly-30-year period of the label’s history, reaching commercial heights with artists including Bobby McFerrin, Us3, Norah Jones, Al Green and Amos Lee, while recording some of the most important jazz artists of our time including Joe Lovano, Greg Osby, Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, Ambrose Akinmusire, Don Pullen, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Terence Blanchard, Jacky Terrasson, and many others.

Lundvall began his music career in marketing at Columbia Records where he remained for 21 years, becoming President of the domestic division of CBS Records in 1976. In 1974 he gave the green light to Bruce Springsteen's breakthrough album Born to Run, after hearing the song of the same name. In 1979, Bruce Lundvall organized and sponsored in Havana, Cuba, the Havana Jam festival that took place between 2–4 March, with Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, Stephen Stills, the CBS Jazz All-Stars, the Trio of Doom, Fania All-Stars, Billy Swan, Bonnie Bramlett, Mike Finnigan, Weather Report, and Billy Joel, plus an array of Cuban artists such as Irakere, Pacho Alonso, Tata Güines, and Orquesta Aragón. Their performances are captured on Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary Havana Jam '79, and on the two Columbia albums Havana Jam and Havana Jam II.

Lundvall joined Elektra in 1982, where he became President of Elektra Records and the newly created Elektra/Musician Jazz label.

In 1984, he was approached with an offer to create Manhattan, a pop music label based on the East Coast, for EMI, as well as to revive the suspended Blue Note jazz label. Lundvall accepted the challenge and steered the label for a quarter of a century. He was responsible for signing an unknown Norah Jones. Jones's debut Come Away With Me, and her subsequent albums, have sold in their millions internationally. Lundvall stood down as President of Blue Note in 2010. In January 2012, Don Was became President of Blue Note, having been appointed CEO the previous year, with Lundvall becoming Chairman Emeritus.

Lundvall died of complications from a prolonged battle with Parkinson's disease on May 19, 2015, in Wyckoff.

Newclues - Promotional Photo (1985)
The origins of Newcleus lay in a 1976 Brooklyn DJ collective known as Jam-On Productions, which included Benjy "Cozmo D" Cenac, his best friend David "Dr. Freeze" St. Louis, and Ben's cousins Monique "Niqu" Angevin and her brother Pete "Master Quadro" Angevin (all teenagers and still in high school). Many members (MCs as well as DJs) came and went as Jam-On rocked parks and block parties all over the borough. In 1981 Cozmo decided to create a recording group as an extension of Jam-On. The group included Cozmo, his wife Yvette ("Lady E"), Niqu, and her future husband Bob "Chilly B" Crafton. The foursome originally took on the name Positive Messenger, but would later name their group Newcleus as a result of the coming together of their families.

By this time, Cozmo had begun to accumulate a collection of electronic recording equipment, and the quartet recorded a demo tape of material. With several minutes left at the end of the tape, Newcleus recorded a favorite from their block parties, with the vocals sped up to sound like munchkins. The track, "Jam-On's Revenge," immediately impressed producer Joe Webb, and it became the group's first single, released as Jam-On Revenge by Newcleus featuring Cozmo & The Jam-On Production Crew in 1983 on Mayhew Records. A huge street success, the track became known unofficially as "the Wikki-Wikki song" (after the refrain); when it was re-released later that year on Sunnyview Records, it had become "Jam on Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)."

In 1984 Newcleus topped themselves with the all-time Hip Hop and Electro classic Jam On It. They also established themselves as the first Hip Hop band, playing all the instruments themselves live. They toured nationally with Cameo through 83 and 84, and then were part of the 1st national Hip-Hop tour in history, The Fresh Festival, with Run DMC, Kurtis Blow, Whodini and The Fat Boys. Adding another all-time classic Electro song with Computer Age (Push The Button) and also a Breakbeat classic with Automan, Newcleus has solidified their place in Hip Hop and Electro history as true innovators and pioneers in the genres.

Pictured are members of the group Newcleus with KDAY program director Greg Mack after an interview on the "Greg Mack Rap Attack" show to promote the album Space Is The Place. Kneeling (1. to r.) are Paul Webb and Otis Brown. Standing is Benjy "Cozmo D" Cenac and KDAY's Greg Mack.

Kashif - Promotional Photo (1983)
American multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, producer, artist, composer, author, director, and educator, Kashif promoting his self-titled debut LP for Arista Records. 

Fonzi Thornton - Promotional Photo (feb 1983)
Alfonso "Fonzi" Thornton is an American vocalist, songwriter, producer and vocal contractor. In a career spanning 40 years, Thornton has sung backing vocals for top artists across many genres of music. His vocal credits can be found on the recordings of Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Mick Jagger, Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music, Chic, Diana Ross, Garth Brooks, Ray Charles, Mariah Carey, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Robert Palmer, Patti LaBelle, Al Jarreau, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Phoebe Snow, Scritti Politti, Bette Midler, Lady Gaga and many others. In the spring of 1983, RCA Records released Thornton's debut urban soul-pop album The Leader featuring the lead single "Beverly", which reached number 43 on Billboard's R&B chart. Thornton's second solo album, titled Pumpin', was released in summer 1984 was representative of the dance/funk-rock vibe of the time. At the signing of Fonzi's debut LP are former RCA VP Robert Wright, Fonzi Thornton, former RCA VP Jack Craigo, and former label VP Bill Staton.